Vic Fangio says Case Keenum is Broncos' quarterback 'right now'

During his introductory press conference Thursday, new Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio was asked about the team’s plans at quarterback.

“Well, right now, Case Keenum is our quarterback,” Fangio said. “And I’ve had the good fortune — or misfortune [but] since I’m standing here, good fortune — of seeing him at the best of his career when he was playing for Minnesota [in 2017], being in our division at the time. So I know what he’s capable of and we’re going to try to get that out of him.”

Fangio, who was the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator from 2015-2018, faced Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings twice in 2017. Keenum won both of those games, throwing two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Fangio didn’t commit to Keenum longterm, simply calling him the team’s QB right now, but he also didn’t throw the veteran under the bus. It was a diplomatic and likely honest answer from the new head coach.

Even if Denver drafts a QB in this year’s draft, Keenum should still have a chance to be the team’s Week 1 starter. It wouldn’t make sense financially to cut Keenum, so the soon-to-be 31-year-old quarterback has a legitimate shot to remain on the 53-man roster in 2019.